Anyone who ever said being a parent is easy, is wrong. It's a life-changing, life-long commitment and immensely rewarding. There will be great moments but it is not all fun and games. Sometimes it is downright stressful and hard work but doing your best to be a good parent is one of the greatest thing you will ever do. Being a good parent is not about money and material goods - it is all about putting in the effort to nurture, educate and guide.

To help you we have assembled some useful sources of information and support. This is a completely free, non-commercial web site which we hope will help parents carry out the job of raising and educating their children well.

INFORMATION   HEALTH & SOCIAL   CHILDREN'S INFO   THINGS TO DO   LEARNING ACTIVITIES   LEARNING RESOURCES   GOVERNMENT

PARENTS INFORMATION LINKS:

BBC PARENTS                                                                                                   www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents
LEARNING & TEACHING SCOTLAND                                                                                     www.LTScotland.com
EDINBURGH CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP (CEC) 0131 529 7777  childcarepartners@educ.edin.gov.uk  www.edinburgh.gov.uk
CHILDCARE LINK                                                                0800 096 0296                    www.childcarelink.gov.uk
SCOTTISH CHILDMINDING ASSOCIATION - Enid Lowe          0131 449 4614
PARENTAL LEAVE: MATERNITY ALLIANCE                         020 7588 8582                www.maternityalliance.org.uk
PARENTLINE SCOTLAND                                                     0808 800 2222              www.parentlinescotland.org.uk
EDINBURGH RECYCLING                                                     0131 538 7942                                  www.leep.org.uk
FIRST LINK MAGAZINE                                                                                     www.55north.com/fl4p_home.asp
PARENTS+SCHOOLS MAGAZINE                                         0800 389 3899                    www.dfes.gov.uk/parents
CLICKTHINKING AS A FAMILY: personal safety on the internet                            www.scotland.gov.uk/clickthinking
10 things parents can do to nurture their child's confidence                                       www.centreforconfidence.co.uk 
BILINGUALISM MATTERS                                                                                    www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk
OKtoAsk Parenting Helpline:                                     0808 800 2222                  www.parentingacrossscotland.org
SCOTTISH PARENT TEACHER COUNCIL (excellent information resource)                                        www.sptc.info
EDUCATIONAL LETTERS articles, info and template letters                                        www.educationletters.co.uk/
CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND agency for all who work with children in Scotland                    www.childreninscotland.org.uk
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HEALTH & SOCIAL ISSUES:

DEPT OF HEALTH                                                                                                                   www.doh.gov.uk
NHS DIRECT                                                    0845 4647 (yes, that's the full number)        www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
WIRED FOR HEALTH                                                                                                  www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk
IMMUNISATION INFO LINE                                                                                            www.immunisation.org.uk
SCOTTISH SOCIETY FOR AUTISM                                       01259 720044
NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY                                             0141 221 8090
DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION                                                   01383 736814            www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
BRITISH STAMMERING ASSOCIATION             0845 603 2001    jan.anderson@ecosse.net      www.stammering.org
RNIB: Help and info for blind & partially sighted                       0845 702 3153                                  www.rnib.org.uk
ECZEMA                                                                                                                            www.talkeczema.com
THE SEX EDUCATION FORUM: free factsheet for parents                                                                www.ncb.org.uk
SAFER SCOTLAND - drugs awareness                                                                       www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org
NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE                                               0800 77 6600                                    www.ndh.org.uk
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION                                                                     www.equalityhumanrights.com
ONE PARENT FAMILIES SCOTLAND                                    0800 0185026                                  www.opfs.org.uk
TRUANCY: PARENTLINEPLUS                                             0808 800 2222                    www.parentlineplus.org.uk
NSPCC: child safety advice                                                  020 7825 2775                                www.nspcc.org.uk
THE BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION: free healthy eating leaflets 020 7404 6504                    www.nutrition.org.uk
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CHILDRENS INFORMATION LINKS:

NSPCC: child protection helpline. Free 24 hour advice             0808 800 5000                              www.nspcc.org.uk
CHILDLINE   Freepost 1111 London N1 0BR                           0800 1111                                  www.childline.org.uk
CHILDLINE FACTSHEETS and further help:
Gangs, Bullying, Child abuse, Suicide, HIV/AIDS, Stepfamilies, Safe surfing, Drugs, Pregnancy, Running Away, Friends
PARENTS SEPARATING OR DIVORCING? Support and information                                    www.itsnotyourfault.org
ANTI-BULLYING                             www.young-voice.org  www.bullying.co.uk  www.successunlimited.co.uk/bully/links
KIDZONE: health and safety info for under 12's                                                      www.wpthezone.co.uk/kidzone
TEENZONE: health and safety info for teenagers                                                      www.wpthezone.co.uk/teenzone
ADULTZONE: health and safety info for young adults                                                 www.wpthezone.co.uk/adultzone
MIND, BODY, SOUL: health onfo for 14-16 year olds                                                     www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk
MARIE STOPES INTERNATIONAL: sex info for 11-15 year olds                                                www.likeitis.org.uk
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THINGS TO DO:

FILM EDUCATION: tips and free resources                                                                          www.filmeducation.org
LEARNING AND DISCOVERY                                                                                        www.nationaltrust.org.uk                             
SCIENCELINE: free answers your science questions                0808 800 4000                http://scienceline.org  
www.museums.co.uk   www.familiesonline.co.uk   www.guardian.co.uk/education   www.lone-parents.org.uk   www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
CYCLING LINKS:
Organised bike rides in and around Edinburgh                                                             www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk/
Edinburgh RC Cycling Club                                                                                       http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/
Try Cycling in Edinburgh                                                                                    www.trycyclinginedinburgh.org.uk/
Edinburgh Cycling                                                                                                 www.edinburghguide.com/
Edinburgh Council free cycle route maps - city and Pentland Hills                                        www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
Getting around Edinburgh by bike                                                                                    www.edinburgh.org
Cycling Scotland                                                                                              http://cycling.visitscotland.com
Born2Bike second hand bikes, used parts, cheap repairs                                                www.born2bike.freeuk.com   

and don't forget to check at your local library for free and reasonably priced events plus free internet access.
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Early Years - Learning Activity Sites:

BBC EDUCATION                                                                                                       www.bbc.co.uk/education
LADYBIRD learning activities including animated nursery rhymes                                           www.ladybird.co.uk
CBEEBIES interactive stories by BBC                                                                         www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
BBC EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE                                                         www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs/
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Primary 1 and 2 - Learning Activity Sites:

BBC EDUCATION                                                                                                       www.bbc.co.uk/education
THE MAGIC KEY Reading & grammar activities                                                  www.bbc.co.uk/schools/magickey
ABC ORDER alphabet game                                                                   www.learningplanet.com/act/abcorder.asp
CBBC interactive learning by BBC                                                                                   www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/
BBC 4-11 PRIMARY RESOURCES                                                                  www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
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Primary 3 to 7 - Learning Activity Sites:

GRIDCLUB                                                                                                                            www.gridclub.com
BBC 4-11 PRIMARY RESOURCES                                                                  www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
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Secondary - Learning Activity & Advice Sites:

DADS AND SONS: Help with early secondary years                       0845 602 2260            www.teachernet.gov.uk
BBC BITESIZE                                                                                                 www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision
CHANNEL 4 HOMEWORK HIGH                                                                               www.channel4.com/homework
AIM HIGHER: Higher education magazine                                      0800 587 8500            www.dfes.gov.uk/aimhigher 
WORRIED ABOUT LEAVING HOME?                                                                                       www.uni4me.com
UNIVERSITY FUNDING HOTLINE                                                  0800 587 8500    www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS: CAREERS SERVICE                                             www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
NATIONAL TESTING: FREE LEAFLET                                   0845 602 2260                   www.standards.dfes.gov.uk
BBC 11-16 SECONDARY RESOURCES                                                        www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/11_16/
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Other Learning Help & Resources:

NUMERACY & LITERACY                                                                                                      www.learn.co.uk
POETRY CHALLENGE                                                                                              http://ambg.co.uk/poetry/
ENGLISH TIPS AND READING LISTS:  www.booktrust.org.uk  www.boox.org.uk  www.fathersdirect.com
HELP WITH MATHS PROBLEMS: http://mathschallenge.net/  www.learn.co.uk  www.bbc.co.uk/schools
SCIENCE SOLUTIONS: www.scienceyear.com  www.sciencemadesimple.com  www.nhm.ac.uk  www.howstuffworks.com
FANTASY LEAGUE: MATHS & ICT SKILLS                                                            www.fantasyleague.com/schools
ENCYCLOPAEDIA        http://factmonster.com   http://encarta.msn.com (only until 31 October 2009)
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ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES:

Secretary of State for Scotland                Scottish.secretary@scotland.gov.uk              www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE - EDUCATION                                                                                 www.scotland.gov.uk
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE - EDUCATION                                  www.parentscentre.gov.uk      www.ngflscotland.gov.uk
EDUCATION, CULTURE & SPORT COMMITTEE                                                               www.scottish.parliament.uk
FURTHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT                                                                                 www.dfee.gov.uk
EDUCATION SERVICE PLAN                                                                                     www.openscotland.gov.uk
DEPT OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS                                                                             www.dfes.gov.uk/parents
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